Filius chaos

10 - Meeting the team

Perseus

Erebus's cryptic answer only made me more curious.

Unfortunately, before I could ask him anything else, Mother called my name.

"Perseus."

I turned toward her.

She was smiling.

"I have a small gift for you," she said. "Please follow me."

A gift?

I raised an eyebrow.

The Olympians had certainly never given me anything except broken promises and, apparently, an eternal sentence in Tartarus.

Still, I followed her.

As we walked through the palace, I couldn't help thinking about my other mother.

Sally.

I hadn't seen her in so long.

I wondered how she was doing.

Was she safe?

Was she worried about me?

Did she think I was dead?

I pushed the thoughts away.

Mother led me down a familiar corridor and eventually toward the enormous training area I had discovered on my first day here.

Back then, it had been completely empty.

Now, judging by the sounds coming from behind the massive doors, that had clearly changed.

Before opening them, Mother stopped.

She reached into her robes and handed me a black mask.

I stared at it.

"What's this?"

She smiled mysteriously.

"Perseus, they don't know you're here. This is a surprise for them as well."

I looked at the mask, then at her.

Something told me I was about to be thrown into yet another situation I hadn't prepared for.

I sighed and put it on.

"Fine."

Mother opened the doors.

My jaw nearly dropped.

The training hall was enormous.

Hundreds of warriors were scattered across the massive chamber, training with swords, spears, bows, shields and weapons I couldn't even identify. They wore different colored armor, each one marked by a different insignia, and every warrior wore a mask.

The moment Mother and I entered, the entire hall fell silent.

Every warrior stopped.

Then, as one, they turned toward us and bowed.

Mother raised her hand.

"Rise."

They obeyed.

Then they looked at me.

Mother stepped forward.

"Warriors," she announced, "I have brought your leader to you."

She placed a hand on my shoulder and gently moved me forward.

"My youngest son, Perseus Nova Chaos, has returned after many years to take his rightful place as your leader."

The entire hall became silent.